Livingston volleyball won all three sets Tuesday, making quick work of district foe Hamshire-Fannett 25-21, 25-23 and 25-19 in Lion Gym.
The opener was close until Livingston rolled off eight consecutive points to distance themselves at 18-9. Hamshire-Fannett would close it to within three before the Lady Lions took a four-point win.
Livingston came from multiple points behind on a few different occasions stay in close range of the Lady Horns in the second set. Tied at 23, the Lady Lions secured the final two points to go up 2-0.
A close final had the game tied at 18. Livingston scored seven of the next eight points to finish off the sweep and go home early.
“I think the change was us playing in the Dayton tournament and seeing our opponents that we will be playing in district,” Livingston coach Alyssa Fielder said. “We see that we're not just the best team and that we also have competition.
“We played Hardin-Jefferson, we didn't play Liberty, but we saw Liberty play. We saw Shepherd play and also Huffman. Hardin-Jefferson and Huffman are going to be big games that we will play. Playing against Hardin-Jefferson and losing against them – we were super close in each game, because we played them twice. I think that put a little fire under us. We're not the only big dogs around here.”
As the season has progressed, Livingston looks more comfortable on the court and in the coach’s system. The team is playing faster than they did to start non-district.
“I think we still have a lot of growing to do. I am grateful that the speed of our volleyball and the tempo have gotten quicker,” Fielder said. “I think we're hitting the ball and our timing, we are still trying to get used to how fast I want to be. With passing, our reaction time has to be a little bit quicker.
“It is a big improvement. After that Woodville game, we changed a lot up. With us having 14 girls, if someone is off, we can put someone else in, and it makes our lives a lot easier. You never know who is going to show up, and for us, we need everyone to go in to win a game. That is the team that we are. We don't just have six, we have 14 that have to go in.”
The coach said having the deep bench has been helpful during tournaments and for the long season to prevent fatigue.
Livingston is off to a fantastic start in District 19-4A play, where they are 3-0. Huffman Hargrave is the only other unbeaten at this point. After a road match at Tarkington, the Lady Lions’ next game will be at home with Hardin-Jefferson Friday, Sept. 26.
